Heat reclaimer device

ABSTRACT

The instant invention is a heat reclaimer that is positioned within the chimney of an existing outdoor wood stove. The reclaimer is heated by the waste heat leaving the combustion chamber of the outdoor wood stove. This waste heat is captured in the reclaimer by heating water inside the reclaimer then recirculating that water to the existing outdoor wood stove raising the temperature of the return water in that outdoor wood stove and thereby increasing the efficiency of the outdoor wood stove. The device maximizes the efficiency for specific heating outdoor wood stoves by extracting BTUs from waste or lost flue gases through a safe and environmentally sound practice. The device saves substantial amounts of resources as well as time gathering and preparing the fuels.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/016,448 filed Dec. 22, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heat reclaimers are not new to the art, however, the instant invention allows the outdoor wood stoves to increase their overall efficiency by capturing heat from waste gas and returning that heat to the outdoor wood stove allowing it to retain a higher base temperature. Outdoor wood stoves are typically jacketed to heat water through heat transfer. The water or fluid that circulates around the outdoor wood stove is pumped into the house or building requiring heat. This water is recirculated to the outdoor wood stove to be reheated then recirculated into the building. The purpose of the heat reclaiming device is to reduce the time it takes to bring the water in the jacket to the appropriate temperature to circulate. The use of the waste heat decreases the reheat time and increases the overall efficiency of the outdoor wood stove. Most heat alternative fuel outdoor wood stoves heat fluids within the outdoor wood stove or around the outdoor wood stove, however none use waste heat to increase their efficiency. For example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,411 issued to Dearborn on Aug. 17, 1982 water is heated inside the outdoor wood stove using direct heat. The instant invention has, in addition to this type of direct heating, a means to capture heat released by waste flue gases to increase efficiency.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,292 issued to Mitchell on Aug. 9, 1983 uses a reclaimer that uses forced air to increase the direct heat coming from the stove. It does not use the reclaimer to increase efficiency by heating water in a heat transfer process as in the instant invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,113 issued to McIntire on May 9, 1978 uses direct heating of copper tubing to heat a swimming pool. The unit once again uses direct heat to heat the copper while waste gases are unused and pass through the chimney wasted.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,051 issued to Auerbach on Apr. 6, 1982 is another example of heating by direct heat and not utilizing the waste gases to generate more efficiency.

THE INVENTION

A heat reclaimer that is comprises in combination, a housing, at least one water jacket, at least one inlet, at least one outlet, at least one heat transfer element and at least one support member.

The housing consists of an exterior surface and houses a fluid or a water jacket and heat transfer elements. The unit itself can house fluid as the water jacket. The water jacket is positioned within the housing and has at least one inlet and one outlet. The unit also has at least one heat transfer element. One embodiment has multiple heat transfer elements to increase its efficiency through increased surface.

The housing has at least one support member extending from the housing to engage the edge of a chimney. The support members are arranged like tabs to rest the unit on the edge on the chimney just inside the chimney to capture the waste gases as they pass the unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the heat reclaimer inserted into the chimney of a outdoor wood stove.

FIG. 2 is a full side view of one embodiment of the heat reclaiming device.

FIG. 3 is a full side view of another embodiment of the heat reclaiming device.

FIG. 4 is a full side view of another embodiment of the heat reclaiming device.

FIG. 5 is a full top view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 showing the inlet the outlet and the heat transfer elements.

FIG. 6 is a full side view of the device of FIG. 2 with the water jacket shown in phantom.

FIG. 7 is a full front view of a device without a water jacket.

FIG. 8 is a full side view of a device wherein the internal multiple heat transfer elements shown in phantom.

FIG. 9 is full side view of a device with a water jacket.

FIG. 10 is another embodiment of the heat reclaiming device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the heat reclaimer 2 inserted into the chimney 38 of a outdoor wood stove 4. The outdoor wood stove 4 has a jacket that heats water or fluid and is circulated throughout the building that is being heated. The inlet 6 into the reclaimer 2 is a return line 10 from the building that is being heated. This line 10 is cool as it has performed its goal in bringing heat to said building. The reclaimer 2 preheats this return water increasing the speed in which the water can be returned to the building to heat it again. It also increases the efficiency of the outdoor wood stove because a shorter time is required to heat the water to heating temperature extending the life of the fuel of the outdoor wood stove 4. The water is heated in the reclaimer 2 then moves from the outlet 8 through outdoor wood stove return line 12 to the outdoor wood stove 4.

FIG. 2 is a full side view of one embodiment 14 of the heat reclaiming device 2. This embodiment 14 requires the reclaimer 2 to sit directly over the chimney 38. The flue gases move through the inlet 20 near the distal end 16 passing the water jacket 36 (not shown) heating the water which comes in the inlet 6 at the near end 18 and circulates through the jacket 36 and returns to the outdoor wood stove 4 preheated through outlet 8. The flue gases pass through the device 2 and pass through the gas outlet 22. The housing 40 consisting of an exterior 42 and an interior 44 capable of housing the water jacket 36 (not shown) and heat transfer elements 30 (not shown). All embodiments are housed and some are also jacketed.

FIG. 3 is a full side view of another embodiment 24 of the heat reclaiming device 2. This embodiment 24 can be jacketed or not. This device 24 sets in the chimney 38 and the gases pass the device 2 heating the water or fluid before it is returned to the outdoor wood stove 4. The device 24 sits on supports members 26 that rest on the chimney 38. This suspends the unit 2 in the path of the flue gases for capturing or transferring heat to the reclaimer for reheating.

FIG. 4 is a full side view of another embodiment 28 of the heat reclaiming device 2. This embodiment 28 can also be jacketed or not. This embodiment has an inlet 6 and an outlet 8 for the water to enter and leave. It also sits in the chimney 38 and is suspended on the support members 26 to allow the flue gases to pass by and through. This is the essence of this embodiment, that is, there are openings therethrough 30 from the near end 32 to the distal end 34 of the device 2 that create more surface area for increased heat transfer for reheating purposes.

FIG. 5 is a full top view of one embodiment 28 of the heat reclaiming device 2 showing the inlet 6, the outlet 8 and the heat transfer elements 30. Also shown are the support members 26 that allow the device 2 to be suspended from the chimney 38. The fluid is returned in the inlet 6 where it fills the interior and the waste gases pass around and through the water or fluid and heat is transferred to the metal housing and then transferred to the water or fluid and returned to the outdoor wood stove pre-heated thereby increasing the efficiency by reducing fuel consumption and increasing base temperature.

FIG. 6 is a full side view of one embodiment 14 of the heat reclaimer 2 with the water jacket 36 in phantom. Again the unit 2 is placed in the chimney 38 and gases pass through the flue gas inlet 20 passing by the water jacket 36 and proceed through the outlet 22 heating the water within the jacket 36. Then it is returned to the outdoor wood stove, preheated from waste gas.

FIG. 7 is an internal view of another embodiment 24 without a water jacket. The water is returned into the inlet 6 passing into the unit for heating then flows out of the outlet 8 and returns to the outdoor wood stove 4.

FIG. 8 is an internal view of another embodiment 28 with multiple heat transfer elements 30. This unit slips inside the chimney 38 and rests on the support members 26 suspending it in the flue gases. The flue gases actually pass through this device through multiple openings 30 that increase the surface area which increases the heat transfer and the efficiency of the device 2. Water comes in the inlet 6 continuing down the drop leg 48 and once heated it leaves through the outlet 8. The drop leg 48 is present to enhance circulation.

FIG. 9 is an internal view of another embodiment 24 with a water jacket 36. Again the device is suspended in the chimney 38 allowing the flue gases to pass by the water jacket 36 transferring heat from the gases to the unit 2 and then the water or fluid for returns to the outdoor wood stove 4, preheated. This water comes in the inlet 6 and leaves through the outlet 8. This water circulation is repeated every time the water returns from the building being heated.

FIG. 10 is another embodiment 46 of the heat reclaiming device 2. This embodiment features a drop leg 48 as well as inlet 6, outlet 8 and support members 26.

The first embodiment 14, in tests, has increased the burning time of one load of wood from 8-10 hours to 12-18 hours. It also increased the temperature of the returning water from 95°-100° to 140°-145°.

The second embodiment 24, in tests, has increased the burning time of one load of wood from 8-10 hours to 12-15 hours. It also increased the temperature of the returning water from 95°-100° to 125°-130°.

The third embodiment 28, in tests, increased the burning time of one load of wood from 8-10 hours to 12-16 hours. It also increased the temperature of the returning water from 95°-100° to 130°-135°. Overall testing of the device has shown that it increases efficiency up to 30% depending on the model of stove used.

The heat reclaiming device 2 will maximize the efficiency for specific heating outdoor wood stoves by extracting BTUs from waste or lost flue gases through a safe and environmentally sound practice. This device saves substantial amounts of resources as well as time gathering and preparing the fuels. The use of the waste gases also reduces the emissions by utilization of those emissions before they are released to the atmosphere. Another benefit of the device is the ease in installation. Installation requires an in line and an out line connected to the device, then it simply sits within the confines of a chimney. 

1. A heat reclaimer that comprises in combination, a housing, at least one water jacket, at least one inlet, at least one outlet, at least one heat transfer element and at least one support member; said housing having an exterior surface and contains a water jacket; said water jacket having at least one inlet and one outlet and at least one heat transfer element associated therewith; said housing having at least one support member extending from the exterior surface of said housing to engage the edge of a chimney.
 2. A heat reclaimer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reclaimer is manufactured from metal.
 3. A heat reclaimer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reclaimer has more than one heat transfer element.
 4. A heat reclaimer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reclaimer is capable of holding any suitable fluid heating medium.
 5. A heat reclaimer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reclaimer is manufactured from ceramic.
 6. A heat reclaimer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reclaimer is used in a wood burning outdoor wood stove.
 7. A method of reclaiming waste heat from a outdoor wood stove, the method comprising: Providing a reclaimer as claimed in claim 1 and placing said reclaimer in the chimney of an outdoor wood stove.
 8. A method of reclaiming waste heat from an outdoor wood stove, the method comprising: providing a reclaimer as claimed in claim 1 and placing the reclaimer over a chimney of a outdoor wood stove wherein flue gases are diverted through reclaimer to capture waste heat.
 9. A heat reclaiming device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said heat reclaimer is not jacketed.
 10. In combination, a heat reclaiming device as claimed in claim 1 and a corn burning furnace.
 11. In combination, a heat reclaiming device as claimed in claim 1 and a coal burning furnace.
 12. In combination, a heat reclaiming device as claimed in claim 1 and a biomass burning furnace.
 13. In combination, two or more heat reclaiming devices as claimed in claim 1, in series.
 14. A heat reclaimer device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reclaimer has an internal drop leg. 